Statement by the Secretary of State on the Tripartite Pact, September 27,
1940

The reported agreement of alliance [56] does not, in the view of the Government
of the United States, substantially alter a situation which has existed. for
several years. Announcement of the alliance merely makes clear to all a relationship
which has long existed in effect arid to which this Government has repeatedly
called attention. That such an agreement has been in process of conclusion has
been well known for some time, and that fact has been fully taken into account
by the Government of the United States in the determining of this country's
policies.

[56] The following is a tentative translation, as received from the Japanese
Ministry for Foreign Affairs on Sept. 27, 1940, of the Tripartite Pact between
Japan, Germany, and Italy, signed at Berlin, Sept. 27, 1940 (Dept. of State,
file 763.9411/136):

The Governments of Japan, Germany and Italy, considering it as the condition
precedent of any lasting peace that all nations of the world be given each its
own proper place, have decided to stand by and co-operate with one another in
regard to their efforts in Greater East Asia and the regions of Europe respectively
wherein it is their prime purpose to establish and maintain a new order of things
calculated to promote mutual prosperity and welfare of the peoples concerned.
Furthermore it is the desire of the three Governments to extend cooperation
to such nations in other spheres of the world as may be inclined to put forth
endeavours along lines similar to their own, in order that their ultimate aspirations
for world peace may thus be realized. Accordingly the Governments of Japan,
Germany and Italy have agreed as follows:

ARTICLE 1
Japan recognizes and respects the leadership of Germany and Italy in the establishment
of a new order in Europe.

ARTICLE 2
Germany and Italy recognize and respect the leadership of Japan in the establishment
of a new order in Greater East Asia.

ARTICLE 3
Japan, Germany and Italy agree to cooperate in their efforts on the aforesaid
lines. They further undertake to assist one another with all political, economic
and military means when one of the three Contracting Parties is attacked by
a power at present not involved in the European War or in the Sino-Japanese
Conflict.

ARTICLE 4
With a view to implementing the present Pact, Joint Technical Commissions the
members of which are to be appointed by the respective Governments of Japan,
Germany and Italy will meet without delay.

ARTICLE 5
Japan, Germany and Italy affirm that the aforesaid terms do not in any way affect
the political status which exists at present as between each of the three Contracting
Parties and Soviet Russia.

ARTICLE 6
The present Pact shall come into effect immediately upon signature and shall
remain in force for ten years from the date of its coming into force. At proper
time before the expiration of the said term the High Contracting Parties shall,
at the request of any one of them, enter into negotiations for its removal [renewal?].
574